Tom Sims, 1950-2012

Photograph ByPhotograph by Bud Fawcett/budfawcett.com

The board-sports world lost a legend when skateboard and snowboard pioneer Tom Sims passed away in September from cardiac arrest. Besides being one of the original snowboarding messiahs and board manufacturers, Sims is credited with designing the first high-back binding system. But, most importantly, Sims brought the loose and fun irreverence of skateboarding to the mountains, turned snowboarding away from racing and helped lay the foundation for the culture of "cool." RIP.